Vehicle headlight control



I May 22, 1945.

F. B. HALE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT CONTROL Filed Jan. 28, 1944 AITU RN EYE Patented May 22, 1945 v un ran STATE vnmcm HEADLIGHT common I Frank B. Hale; sen Francisco, Calif. Application January 28,1944, Serial No. 520,081

4 Claims. (cl. 315-83) My invention relates to automotive vehicle lighting circuits, and has among its objects and advantages the provision or an improved circuit operating to automatically dim the headlamps on the vehicle as it comes within a prescribed distance from an approaching vehicle with illuminated headlamps, together with a manual control.

The drawing diagrammatically illustrates an electric circuit in accordance with my invention.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the drawing illustrates headlamps 18 each provided with a bright light filament l2 and a dim light filament I4. The filaments in each lamp l8 are grounded at l8.

Two relays i8 are provided for the respective lamps l8. Each relay is of the two winding type, one winding in each relay-being connected with a wire 28 leading to its respective bright light filament l2. These two windings of the relays are electrically connected by a wire 22. A wire 24 leads from each second winding to the dim light filament l4, and the second windings are electrically connected by a wire 28. A control relay 28 is electrically connected with a wire 38 leading to a contact 32 of a manually operated switch 34. This switch includes a, movable contact 38 actuated by a plunger 38 for moving the contact 38 into and out of engagement with the contact 32. The contact 38 is electrically connected with a wire 48 leading to a light sensitive means, such as a photoelectric cell 42, which is mounted on the vehicle in such manner as to' be subjected to the light rays from the headlamps of approaching vehicles. A second wire 44 leads from-the photoelectric cell 42 to the relay 28.

The wire 48 is electrically connected with a stationary contact 48 of a second manually operated switch 48. The switch 48 includes a movable contact 58 which may be moved into and out of engagement with, the contact 48 through the medium of a plunger 52. The wire 58 is connected with the usual battery 54 which is grounded at 88.

Two pilot lamps 88 and 88 are provided. One pilot lamp 58 and one lamp 80 are electrically connected with the wire 48, as by a wire 82. The remaining lamps 58 and 88 are electrically connected with a wire 84 electrically connected with the wire 48, the latter being electrically connected with a movable contact 88 having engage ment with a stationary contact 88 when the bright light filaments l2 are energized. The contact 88 is arranged to be attracted by the energized relay 28 to bring the contact into engagement with a traflic or mthe city, closing oi the switch :4

second stationary contact 10 in the switch 12,

which includes the contact 88. The contact 18' is electrically connected with the wire 28.

Wires I4 connect the respective lamps 88 with stationary contacts 18 associated with movable contacts 18 grounded at 88. The contacts I8 are arranged to be attracted by the relays l8 to separate from the contacts I8. Each lamp 88 is connected with a wire 82 leading to a movable congagement with the contact 88. However, when the photoelectric cell is subjected to light rays of approaching vehicles within such distances as are prescribed by law, the relay 28 becomes energized for attracting the contact 88 into engagement with the contact 18 to supply current to the dim light filaments l4. When operating in heavy short circuits the photoelectric cell 42 so as to dim the headlamps I8.

The current for the lighting circuit flows through the relays l8. When current is flowing in the circuit, the two relays are energized, thereby breaking the circuits of the indicating lamps 58. Should a filament burn out, the light bulb become loose or a wire should become broken or unloosened and cause opening of the circuit,

the lamp 88 in the impaired circuit will become illuminated to indicate which lamp I8 is functioning improperly.

The same is true with respect to the tail light circuits, in that the relays 88 are normally energized and break the circuits through the lamps 88. Impairment of either circuit will cause the lamp 88 in'that circuit to illuminate.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may" by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various. conditions of service. v

I claim:

1. An automotive vehicle illuminating system comprising a circuit having multiple filament So long as the photoelectric cell 42 is not I ments and the, dim light filaments a relay of I g the two winding type in the circuit having a wire from each winding to the bright light filamentsan'd the dim light filaments, respectively, 1 and to the respective contacts of the switch, 'a

relay for actuatingsaid ,-vitch, a light sensitive means connected with said latter relay and operating when subjected-to light rays from api proaching vehicles for energizing said latter ref lay and actuating said switch to cut cit the 1 j current supply to said bright light filaments and 3 supply current, to the dim light filaments, pilot 1 lamps for the respective filaments,

second i switches in the circuit for said pilot lamps, and

condition;

secondrelays interposed in said circuit for norma'lly maintaining said second switches in ope 2. An automotive vehicle illuminating system comprising a circuit having multiple filament i lamps including a bright lightfilament and a 1 dim light filament a battery in the circuit, a z j switch double contact for controlling the sup- 1 ply of current to the respective bright light filar ments and the dim light filaments a relay of 1 the two winding type in the circuit having a wire from each winding to the bright light filaments BEST AVAILABLE COPY and the dim light filaments, respectively, and to the respective contacts of the switch, a relay for actuating said switch, a light sensitive means connected with said latter relay and operating when subjected to light rays from approaching vehicles for energizing said latter relay and actuating said switch to cut oil the current supply to said bright light filaments and supply current to the dim light filaments, pilot lamps for the respective filaments, second switches in the circuit for said pilot lamps, second relays interposed in said circuit for normally maintaining said second switches in open condition, tail lamps third switches interposed in said circuit and electrically connected with said tail lamps, and second pilot lamps respectively connected with said third switches, with said third switches arranged to be maintained in open conditions by said third relays during normal energlzation of the circuit.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein a switch means is provided for short circuiting said light sensitive means for maintaining energization of the dim light filaments. v

4. The invention described in claim 2 wherein switch 1 means are provided in said circuit for short circuiting said light sensitive means to maintain continued energization of the dim light filaments.

FRANK B. HALE. 

